nichols



W. S. NICHOLS.

RAIL JOINT. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 9, 1.922-

. 1,435,019., Patnted Nov. 7, 1-922.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.-

cargo, or for manipulating the suction and discharge of the trench forming pumps hereinafter described.

The sections of the deck houses will be fastened together and to the deck when assem bled by suitable bolts to make them a strong and substantial structure and the pilot house 17 may be of a size suitable to handle in its entirety and placed in position or removed to the hold through one of the hatchways by a single lift.

The smoke stack, life boats, bollards, capstans and derricks are all designed for stowing away within the hold of the vessel when the latter is dismantled for any ofthe purposes herein set forth.

lVhile I have shown and described only a self propelled vessel or steamer, it is understood that the same is applicable to tow barge or consort, and wherein the transformation or conversion of the vessel would be a much more simple matter for obvious reasons.

The derricks 16 are mounted upon low flat wheels suitable for movin about manually upon the deck, and the hoisting mechanism thereupon may be operated by electricity or other power, as may be convenient.

Each of the machines 16 have a pivoted swinging boom 18 with which the various movable parts of the vessel as well as the cargo, are handled.

When such ships are called upon to act as naval vessels and preparatory to being interned for coast defense purposes, they are equipped with two or more portable centrifugal pumps as indicated at 19. These pumps are placed on deck and each may be operated in conjunction with one of the portable derricks 16 and driven from the power unit there upon or may be directly connected to an electric or other motor as well known in the art. The boom 18 of each adjacent derrick may be used in handling or suspending the dis charge 20 or suction 21 of the pumps during the process of the vessel digging itself in.

In some cases where it might be desirable to discharge the excavated material some considerable distance from the vessel small floats or pontoons 22 may be employed and a canvas or other flexible hose or tubing 23 may be connected with the end of the metal discharge and be carried about upon the pontoon. See Fig. 9 of the drawings.

A. vessel thus equipped could approach a suitable predetermined location on a shallow coast and by keeping her nose hard into the sloping shore bottom. and her pumps at work sucking the sand and material of which the bottom is composed out from under the hull of the vessel and discharging it off to one side, the vessel may quickly entrench herself to any desired distance and position towards shore, or back of the shore line as desired and as indicated in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. The

distance of such entrenching and final elc vation of the vessel being obviously governed by individual circumstances and rise and fall of tide, advantage of the latter being available during the trenching process.

It might be found more practicable to keep the necessary trenches prepared for reception of the vessels and in which event the latter vould not have to be equipped with pumps as above described, but could proceed at once to the berth prepared for them after supplying themselves with the munitions and ar mament and of which they would be capable of taking a large supply.

In case of the vessel preparing her own trench itis evident that a wide range of the pumping facilities may be had as the suctions 21 of some of the pumps may be drawn entirely under the vessel and manipulated to effectively and quickly form the necessary channel, there being any number of pumps necessary carried for the purpose.

After entering the final predetermined position, the vessel may there wholly or partly surround herself with an adequate protection of granular material taken from the trench and still remain afloat or may settle herself upon the bottom of the trench, and if desired wholly surround herself with the material level with her upper deck and by dismantling of her superstructures as before described, become a completely hidden and formidable fortification capable of the most effective form of defense known.

Additional means of seclusion may be resorted to in the way of transplanting trees and shrubbery on and around the vessel as illustrated in Fig. 9 and suitable means of communication with the shore or with observation and directing quarters may be established as circumstances require.

In Figs. 19, 20 and 21 is illustrated a modified method of entrenching the vessel, wherein the propeller of the vessel is utilized in conjunction with the dredging pumps by backing the vessel into the beach, at which time anchors may be used in any direction desired for holding the vessel and from which the latter may be slacked off as the entrenching progresses.

From the foregoing it is evident that I have devised a means whereby co-operation of maritime commercial and governmental interests may be applied in such a manner as to simultaneously build up and stimulate the commerce of a country and provide the most readily available adequate and efficient form of defense possible and that with the minimum initial and maintenance expenditure.

With this novel conception and as an essential part thereof I have devised the particularly adaptable form of vessel above described and the specific co-operative accouterments therefor, and which are put to Pafien'tefi Nuv. 7, 1922.

WALTER S. NICHOLS, OF LOWELL, INDIANA.

RAIL JOINT.

Application filed September 9, 1922. Serial No. 587,186. 

